The Garden City Traffic Commission received a Villagewide Traffic Study from Wiley Engineering dated Jan. 25, 1999. As of the Jan. 13, 2000 meeting the item was still being deferred and was again carried over to the next meeting scheduled for this Thursday, Feb. 17. Wiley studied areas throughout the Village and drafted suggestions for improvements and also identified areas with speeding problems and ways to slow the traffic down in these areas. No recommendations have been taken and all items were sent to the appropriate POA and/or Chamber of Commerce for commentary.

Intersections were studied for their safety and means to help traffic flow through them. Wiley suggested that at Rockaway and Merrillon Avenues the Nassau County plan to channel southwest bound traffic from two lanes into a single lane on Rockaway and the elimination of a yield sign at Merrillon Avenue be adopted. Residents had rejected this plan when suggested by the county, but the Traffic Commission did forward Wiley's suggestion to the CPOA for its comments. A "No Turn on Red" sign, minor tree trimmings, widening for left turn lanes and signals, and increasing the curb radii at the intersection of New Hyde Park Road and Stewart Avenue were all suggested by Wiley. These plans are contingent upon Nassau County. The "No Turn on Red" was rejected by the county and the lanes and curb changes would require county approval and funding. The Parks Department will check the trees. No action was recommended for Fourth Street at Hilton Avenue, Fourth Street at Cathedral Avenue or Cherry Valley Avenue at Cambridge Avenue/First Street.

Traffic calming suggestions like textured pavement, lay by parking, curb extensions, refuge islands, and rumble strips with advance signage were suggested for New Hyde Park Road by the south Village line in the commercial area there. This would require permission and budgeting from the county. The suggestions were forwarded to the WPOA. Stop signs were recommended for side street approaches to Stewart Avenue including Meadbrook Road, Sackville Road, Tullamore Road, Lee Road, Wilson Street, Monroe Street, Lincoln Street, Weyford Terrace, Kildare Road, Wickham Road, Roosevelt Street, Garfield Street, Harrison Street and Adams Street. The Traffic Commission did recommend installing these signs, but has received a letter from William A. Bellmer, chairperson of the Streets and Traffic Committee of the EPOA, opposing the signage at Meadbrook, Weyford, Sackville, Kildare, Tullamore, Wickham, and Lee.

Wiley Engineering suggested the prohibition of U turns on Fourth Street in front of St. Joseph's School by extending the double yellow center line or installing signage. The Traffic Commission accepted the suggestion to extend the line. Wiley also addressed traffic congestion on Stewart Avenue relating from use of the road as a corridor into the Hub. It was suggested that speed signs be placed on the Avenue and residential "gateways" be placed and textured pavement be installed. Also, support for traffic calming measures in the county's Master Plan was recommended. This item was referred to the EPOA for consideration.

Suggestions for reducing speeding throughout the Village included:

* Clinch Avenue ¬ installing a School Speed Restriction Zone for both directions near Homestead School and the possible installation of additional stop signs in both directions, a 25-MPH speed limit on the entire road, turning restriction signs from Stewart Avenue and New Hyde Park Road during rush hour, and changes to the intersection at New Hyde Park with the possibility of complete elimination of the intersection;

* Tanners Pond Road ¬ 25-MPH speed signs, traffic restrictions from Stewart Avenue and Denton Avenue during rush hour, and changes or elimination of the one lane road at the underpass; Edgemere Road ¬ stop signs like a 3-way stop at Yale Street intersection, 25-MPH speed signs on the whole road, traffic restriction signs from Clinch, and Stewart and the southern border of the Village during rush hour;

* Manor Road ¬ "No Through Traffic" from New Hyde Park Road and all of the president streets from Stewart Avenue, stop signs, 25-MPH signs, turning restriction signs from New Hyde Park Road and from Stewart into all of the president streets during rush hour, and change or eliminate the New Hyde Park Road intersection;

* Salisbury Avenue and Chester Avenue ¬ install stop signs, post 25-MPH signs, and turning restrictions from New Hyde Park Road and other such entries during rush hour;

* Stewart Avenue between Nassau Boulevard and the West Village Line ¬ signing program with warnings about speed, lane narrowing, and speed cameras (dummies and real cameras);

* New Hyde Park Road ¬ signage like that suggested for Stewart, speed camera, and lane closure making permanent parking lanes and traffic jogs;

* Fifth Street between Cathedral Avenue and Franklin Avenue ¬ install an eastbound stop sign at Franklin Avenue, high visibility pavement markings, post 25-MPH signs, and post turning restrictions from Cathedral and Franklin Avenues during rush hour;

* Fenimore Road ¬ install "No Through Traffic Signs" at Clinch Avenue and Tanners Pond Road, "Road Narrows" sign by the western approach to Hathaway Road, and a three way stop at Glen Road.

The Traffic Commission discussed the point that cost and inconvenience could be negative effects of implementing these suggestions and also noted that the Police Department would have to work to enforce the speeding signs to make this effective, adding labor for the department. Any changes to Stewart Avenue and New Hyde Park Road would require county permission and funds. Other changes would require funds approved by the Village. All of these suggestions were referred to the POAs.

Suggestions for lot 7N were sent to the Chamber of Commerce for consideration. Wiley had suggested that seven spots be eliminated adjacent to Grand Union, including two handicapped spaces and five of the two-hour parking spaces. An equivalent number of 8-hour parking spaces were recommended for conversion to two-hour parking. In general the lot was found to be in good shape. James Costello, chairperson of the Chamber's Parking Committee wrote back to the Traffic Commission in a letter dated Feb. 3 stating that the Chamber agrees with the recommendation to take the spaces for loading and convert spaces to two-hour spots.

The Traffic Commission, as it is still carrying the report on the deferred agenda, is scheduled to review it again at the Feb. 17 meeting. There are five new letters on the agenda from residents and one non-resident. There are nine items listed on the deferred agenda, including the Wiley Report. The meeting will be held in the Executive Room of Village Hall at 7 p.m., prior to the Village Board Meeting at 8 p.m. in the Board Room.